The McGill Healthcare Infrastructure Group (MHIG) and McGill University Health Centre have announced the Glen site project is the first hospital in Quebec to have achieved LEED Gold NC (New Construction) certification by the Canada Green Building Council.
The hospital complex, located in Montreal, opened in 2015. It was built with sustainable development in mind and adheres to strict environmental standards. It was designed to be as eco-friendly as possible, featuring energy-efficient initiatives such as reducing energy consumption by 35 per cent, compared to a standard Canadian hospital, resulting in $2 million in savings per year; reduced light pollution; low-flow faucets that decrease potable water consumption by 40 per cent compared to a similar building; a link to the City of Montreal’s network through a bicycle path and 397 bicycle parking spots; showers for cyclists; 79 charging stations for electric vehicles; waste management centre for recycling; and decreased heat island effect due to green spaces and the white roofing’s reflective materials.
During construction, the project boasted 94 per cent of construction waste and debris were reused and recycled; 27 per cent of construction material came from local producers; and obtaining materials that are consistent with LEED criteria.
“The McGill Healthcare Infrastructure Group is very proud of the project’s LEED Gold certification and, thanks to the tireless efforts of our accomplished team, we have reduced the structure’s environmental footprint,” said Denis Crevier, president of MHIG, in a press release. “We’ve succeeded in making this project a hospital complex that ranks among the greenest in North America.”
“As a public institution, the MUHC offers a healing environment for both patients and the public,” said Normand Rinfret, president and executive director of the MUHC. “In this respect, building the Glen site served as an excellent opportunity to integrate sustainable development principles into health care planning. This certificate exemplifies our commitment to act as a leader of responsible environmental stewardship within the healthcare sector.”
